Mac Mini Again Shipping Within 24 Hours in the U.S.

Monday July 29, 2013 9:01 AM PDT by Juli Clover

Last week, Mac mini shipping times slipped to 5–7 days, but it appears that Apple’s inventory has normalized over the weekend as shipping times (via 9to5Mac) for the standard Mac mini have returned to 24 hours in both the United States and Canada.

Mac mini shipping times for many other countries around the world remain at 5 to 7 days, as do shipping times for the Mac mini Server, so it is unclear whether or not there is a simple product shortage or if the continued 5 to 7 day worldwide shipping time is indicative of a possible refresh.

The Mac mini, which was last updated in October of 2012, is a potential candidate for an upgrade to Haswell processors. Several other computers in Apple’s lineup are expected to be refreshed with Haswell processors as well, possibly during August or September.

Which first-time Mac buyers, who already have monitors, keyboards, and mice, don't.

For $1300 I can buy a 2.7GHz quad-core iMac with 8GB and a gorgeous screen I will later have to throw away as it is literally welded in place.

Or I can buy a pre-refresh Mac mini with 2.6GHz quad-core and 8GB, use my already-have-it screen, my already-have-it mouse, my already-have-it keyboard, and buy three hundred dollars worth of pizza and beer. After the refresh, this deal will probably be even better.

A top end mini will Geekbench as well as a top end rMBP. In the past it may have been a niche market but over the coming years, with the improvements in integrated graphics, it will be a much wiser choice than an iMac.

My situation too, sort of. I have a circa-2010 Core 2, and I'm itching for a couple more cores. [...]
The real kicker for me, the sticking point I keep returning to, is the idea that
the iMac is now literally welded shut. They may was well stencil on the back: No Repairs or Upgrades Possible.

A slightly larger case than the mini, with desktop parts instead of laptop parts, or a Mac Pro style cylinder with desktop, not server parts. I think either might work.

We need the tweener desktop model, as the iMac just does not do it for a lot of folks.

Boo. My mom needs a new computer. Her Core 2 Duo mini is getting long in the tooth, and I've got dibs on it for an iTunes server.

But you kind of need a back end computer to take full advantage of the AppleTV don't you?

I wish they wouldn't artificially handicap the ATV. Such a nice piece of equipment with good capability, but could be great with some relatively minor software changes.

Edit: You really should look at the Geekbench scores. The Mid ($800) Mini beats all but the i7 based iMacs. That means you have to spend AT LEAST 1699 for the 21.5" model with the 3.1ghz processor to match the "mid" range Mini. That's a lot of cash to spend on upgrades (even Apple's).

The mini has made some great strides as a desktop machine. However, I wish there was a model that traded some of its ultimate small size for some desktop grade parts.

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